Electric-switch-operating mechanism.



O. N. WISWELL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1911.

Patented July 15, 1913.

WM WM 3 flzzo hereinafter UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC OZRO N. WISWELL, 0FSNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

ing electric switches, and more particularly to such as have a pluralityof arms and are of considerable size, such, for instance, as are knownas pole or line switches and are placed in high tension transmissionlines.

The object of my invention is to provide means for throwing a pluralityof switches at the same time, whereby the effort needed to do this maybe reduced to a minimum.

My invention comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts whichwill be described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my invention embodied in theform now preferred by me.

The figure shows in plan and diagrammatically a three throw switch, suchas is placed in a transmission line, in which my invention is embodied.

In the operation of such large switches as the pole switches which areplaced in transmission lines, it requires considerable effort to opensuch switches, even under favorable conditions. This is partly due tothe fact that these switches are of large size, partly to the fact thatthere are three switches to move at one time, and, under specialconditions, to the formation of crusts of ice, snow, dirt or rust whichtends to cement the blades between the j aws. Under theselatterconditions it is sometimes almost impossible to start theswitches. In my invention I have proyided means whereby the threeswitches are started in succession, the starting effort being confinedto one of the switches until it is started, and then being applied tothe other switches in succession, its application to any switch beingdelayed until all the switches preceding it in order have been started.By this plan the starting effort is reduced to that necessary to startone switch, instead of three.

In the figure I have shown diagrammatically, in plan, a pole switch ofordi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 12, 1911.

Patented July 15,1913.

Serial No. 638,217.

nary construction, except for the incorporation therein of my invention.This contains three switches, 1,. 2 and 3 with the jaws l which areconnected in their respective lines. Each of the switches 1, 2 and 3turns upon a pivot placed at its center 5, swinging into positionsuch-as indicated by the dotted lines, when they are opened. The'pivotaxis of one of these switches usually consists of a shaft extendingdownward to a convenient point and'having a handle, as 25' by which theyare all operated. Each switch also has a crank arm as 10, 20 and 30,secured to its pivot and all of these arms are connected by a barG so asto cause all the switches to move together. The above features are, ormay be, of usual construction. r

Referring to the figureit will be seen that the arm 20 is connected withthe bar 6 by a pin 7 which is within a slot 70 in the bar 6 whereby thebar 6 is not set in motion until after the switch 2 has been started.The arm 30 of switch 3 is however connected to the bar without any slackor lost motion, so that the switch 3 starts with the bar 6. The arm 10of Switch 1 is connected with the bar 6 by means of a slot 70 whichreceives its pin 7, whereby switch 1 is not started until after switch 3has gotten under motion. By this plan of employing twoslack'connect-ions, the starting resistance of the switches is overcome,one at a time, thus greatly reducing the maximum effort required. As thefriction of rest, even under favorable conditions is much greater thanthe friction of motion, and as the momentum of a switclnafter it isstarted, will assist slightly in continuing the movement, the effortrequired to start switches so connected is greatly lessened by this planof connection.

Tlhile by my invention, the switches are started successively, so thatthere is no overlapping of time in their respective starting effort, theswitches, once started, are moved together and the contact surfaces ofbar and jaws may be so proportioned, in length and position, that theactual time of breaking contact may be exactly simultaneous. As themoving parts are well under way when the make and break occurs, this isa small matter and need not be practically considered.

I have shown a preferred form of connection for bar 6 with two of theswitches,

the bar 6 without any slack.

while the like member 91 upon the opposite end of the bar 6 has a roundhole for the pm 7 thus forming a snug connection with switch arm 30,leaving no slack motlon. By

this construction the length of the bar may also be adjusted.

In operation the switch 2 is first started, as it is directly andpositively connected with the operating lever 25. Immediately after theswitch 2 is started the pin 7 carried by arm 20 engages the end of theslot 70 and the effort is then appliedto switch 30, this switch beingthe one which is connected with After this switch is started, the effortis then applied to switch 1 because of'movement of the bar 6 enough toconsume the slack provided for by the slot 70. It will thus be seen thatthe maximum or starting efforts for the different switches do notoverlap in time, but occur successively, from which it follows that themaximum effort required is greatly reduced.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a switch for a three-wire line, the

' combination with three separate switchelements, of a bar having a snugconnection with one switch, a slack connection with the other twoswitches, and an operative member connected with and operating saidconnecting bar through one of the switches of the slack-connected pair.

2. In a three wire switch, in combination,

a switch for each line, a common connecting member for all threeswitches, the connec tion for said member with one switch being a snugconnection and for the others being slackconnections, and means foradjusting the relative positions of said connections.

3. In a three wire switch, the combination with a separate switchmechanism for each wire, an actuating arm for the movable member of eachof said switch mechanisms,

each of said arms carrying a projecting pin,

a common operating member having slots for the reception of two of saidpins to form slack connections with their arms, and a socket snuglyfitting the remaining pin and connected with said common operatingmemher, and means for adjusting the distances between said slots andsocket.

4. In an operating mechanism for a three wire switch, in combination,separate mov able switch members for each wire, an actuating arm foreach of said movable switch members carrying a pin, a common operatingmember for said arms comprising a bar having a slot'receiving the pincarried by one of said arms to form a slack connection therewith, asimilarly slotted member adapted to receive the pin carried by anotherarm and itself adjustably connected with said bar, to vary its distancefrom the slot in the bar, a socket member adapted to snugly receive thepin carried by the remaining arm and adjustably connected with the barto vary the distance from the slots therein.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto atiixed my signature at Seattle,Washington, this 6th day of July, 1911.

O N. WISVVELL. Witnesses:

H. L. REYNOLDS, R. C. TOTTEN.

